B&P Tunnel Replacement Project environmental review process concludes

Washington, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel Project, concluding the environmental review process in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Amtrak’s engineering and planning managers coordinated closely with the FRA, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), and Baltimore City throughout the three-year study to identify a new tunnel alignment to replace the existing B&P Tunnel.

Owned by Amtrak, the 144-year old, two-track tunnel is one of the worst bottlenecks along the Northeast Corridor – one that not only constrains Amtrak trains, but also Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) trains and Norfolk Southern Railway freight trains. The replacement of the B&P Tunnel is an economic imperative to attain the speed, frequency and reliability befitting a world-class rail system. While the $60 million High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program study has been completed, Amtrak and partners are still working to identify funding to finalize design and begin construction.

Visit www.bptunnel.com for more information.